Shrewsbury Town have suffered their share of non-league FA Cup shocks

When the balls that paired Shrewsbury Town and Salford City together were drawn, it prompted a fascinating reaction.

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Shrewsbury step out at Croft Park, where they would be beaten 3-1 by Blyth Spartans

For many, ‘banana skin’ sprung to mind. The Shrews faithful are all too familiar to FA Cup first round embarrassment, particularly against so-called minnows.

Town have been on the wrong end of a non-league giant-killing on nine occasions as a Football League club.

Shrewsbury Town fans watch their team lose 3-1 at Blyth Spartans

Two divisions and 33 league positions separate John Askey’s Town and Graham Alexander’s City. The hosts should and will be favourites to win Sunday’s lunchtime tie.

However, the visit of Salford is not your average David versus Goliath Cup feast.

Salford have been propelled towards the Football League since early 2014, when they were taken owner by five members of Manchester United’s ‘Class of ‘92’ and Singapore-based billionaire Peter Lim, who also owns Valencia.

Shrewsbury do not always have it plain-sailing when finding themselves favourites.

There have been a handful of occasions over the last couple of decades that Salopians would wish to forget about.

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Of the nine occasions Town have been downed by a non-league side, two were in the 1950s – against Leytonstone and Weymouth. Wigan and Peterborough have also claimed Salop’s scalp in their days in non-league. While more recently, in 2012/13, rivals Hereford United enjoyed a 3-1 Edgar Street success over Town.

Here are some other humiliating days that Shrewsbury do not need a repeat of.

1. Shrewsbury Town 0-1 Staines Town. First round, November 7, 2009.

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A dejected Graham Coughlan of Shrewsbury Town walks off at the end of the match as Staines Town celebrate their win (AMA)

Paul Simpson’s FA Cup record as Shrewsbury Town chief is one best forgotten.

The future England Under-20s World Cup winner oversaw two first-round ties as Town boss.

Simpson may have taken Salop to Wembley in the League Two play-off final but there was no danger of any FA Cup heroics as, for the second season running, Town were undone by minnows.

Staines, then of the Blue Square South (step six of the football pyramid) were 1-0 winners thanks to a fine first-half strike from Ali Chaaban.